Hip Hop vs. Rap

I saw a t-shirt a couple of months ago that read Rap - Lies = Hip Hop. I thought to myself, “WOW! That really sums it up” For years now, I’ve found myself explaining to individuals the difference between Hip Hop and Rap. I’m always surprised to see how many people think they are one in the same. Well, they aren’t…

Quick Tutorial…

Many years ago, when we first began to hear the rhyming syncopated lyrics sitting proudly atop the fast beats and rhythms it was about a social consciousness and awareness. It was about empowerment. It was letting the world know what going on within the heart of the Black community; the conditions in which we were living. Hip Hop was a way to voice political views in a not-so-aggressive way.

Then along came rap with all its lies and degradations. Listen closely to any rapper taking about “swagger” and you’ll hear the lies and misconceptions that embody the song.

For some reason that t-shirt made me think of another equation…

Self Righteousness - Lies = Relationship

You see, one who is self righteous is one who is confident of one's own righteousness. They are especially and smugly moralistic and intolerant of the opinions and behavior of others. This characteristic is contrary to having a deep relationship with God. It goes against who He is and what He stands for. A self righteous God would not have given His only Son for our opinions and behavior. We are not worth it.

Are you intolerant of others and how they operate? Do you dislike change? Do you feel your way is the ONLY way? If you answered yes to any of those questions then you may be self righteous.

I’ll leave you with this analogy…Hip Hop is to Rap as Relationship is to Self Righteousness. Do you have a relationship or are you self righteous?

In a committed relationship,
~Sonja